Living in George Town, Exuma: a harbor town on about $2,700 a month
What it costs to live on Great Exuma, how safe it is, and what thin island services mean for healthcare, groceries and getting around.
- $2,700/mo
- Monthly budget · single
Plan on about $2,700 a month in U.S. dollars for one person in George Town, with most single budgets in our data falling between $2,000 and $3,400. A couple needs around $4,000 and a family of four about $5,800. A one-bedroom near the harbor rents for about $1,300 a month, or about $1,000 a little farther out. Our George Town figures rest on a small sample, so treat them as a starting point and price your own shopping list.
George Town is the main settlement on Great Exuma, wrapped around Elizabeth Harbour, and nearly everything here happens on or near the water. It suits people who want a small, sociable island town, who sail or want to learn, and who'd rather swap big-city services for a short boat ride to a quiet beach.
It's a harder fit if you need regular specialist care, want nightlife beyond a beach bar, or hate planning ahead. Groceries arrive by boat or plane, and the clinic in town handles routine care, not emergencies that need a hospital.
Reviewed and updated October 15, 2026 · 4 min read
At a glance
$2,700
Monthly budget · single person
$1,300/mo 1-bed rent, center
62/100
Safety index
$100
Internet / month
Expatsi estimates, updated Oct 2026, based on rental listings, government statistics, and local reporting. Coverage here is thin, so treat these as a rough guide.
Cost of living
What it costs to live in George Town
Single person
$2,000–$3,400/mo
about 15% below Austin, TX
Couple
$3,000–$5,000/mo
about 15% below Austin, TX
Family of four
$4,500–$7,100/mo
about 25% below Austin, TX
Compared with Austin, TX (Expatsi estimate, 2026).
- $25 +25%
- Inexpensive meal
- $1,000–$1,600/mo −33%
- 1-bed rent, center
- $750–$1,250/mo −26%
- 1-bed rent, outside
- $100/mo +54%
- Internet
Expatsi estimates, updated Oct 2026, based on rental listings, government statistics, and local reporting. Coverage here is thin, so treat these as a rough guide.
Daily life
How George Town lives
- C- grade, 3rd percentile among the cities we track
- Dining & cafésmodest
- C- grade, 0th percentile among the cities we track
- Arts & culturemodest
- C grade, 7th percentile among the cities we track
- Parks & outdoorsmodest
- C- grade, 2nd percentile among the cities we track
- Schools & educationmodest
- C- grade, 3rd percentile among the cities we track
- Healthcare accessmodest
- C- grade, 0th percentile among the cities we track
- Bike infrastructuremodest
- C- grade, 0th percentile among the cities we track
- Public transitmodest
Graded on OpenStreetMap amenity density relative to the 369 cities we track. Accessibility is the exception: it's graded against a fixed standard (terrain steepness and sidewalk surfaces), not a curve.
Climate
Weather through the year
Climate data not available for George Town yet.
On the ground
Scenes from George Town
Getting around
Transport in George Town
Most people here drive. You can rent a car in George Town or at the airport with a U.S. or international license, and the rest of Great Exuma, plus Little Exuma across the bridge, is easiest to reach by car. Traffic keeps to the left, as it does everywhere in The Bahamas, but most cars on the island are U.S. imports with the steering wheel on the left, so you'll sit on the curb side. Canada's and the U.K.'s travel advice both warn that rural roads can be rough and that night driving is riskier, so take it slow after dark.
In town, the shops, banks and harbor sit close together, and short errands work on foot. Stocking Island, across the harbor, is reachable only by boat: water taxis run from George Town, and cruisers come ashore by dinghy.
Exuma International Airport is about 10 miles (16 km) north of town. It has flights to Nassau and to several U.S. gateways, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta and Charlotte, though routes change with the season, so check before you count on one.
- 0.0/sq mi
- Transit stops
- 0.0/sq mi
- Bike infrastructure
- 0.3/sq mi
- Wheelchair-accessible places
Mapped features per square mile from OpenStreetMap.
Community
Community & practical notes
Who you'll meet: Two communities share the harbor. There's the Bahamian town, and there's the winter cruising fleet: in the heart of winter, more than 300 boats commonly anchor here. Cruisers run a busy morning VHF radio net with weather, swaps and invitations, gather at Volleyball Beach on Stocking Island, and stage the George Town Cruising Regatta--about 10 days of races and silliness in late February. Even if you live on land, the net and regatta are the fastest ways to meet people.
Black Americans: About 90% of Bahamians identify as primarily of African ancestry, so Black Americans move into a country where Black people are the majority in public life, business and government. Church is a big part of community life; Baptist congregations are the largest denomination.
LGBTQ expats: Same-sex relationships have been legal since 1991, but same-sex marriage isn't. There's also no explicit legal protection against discrimination. Canada's travel advice says homosexuality isn't widely accepted socially, and the U.K. warns that public affection can draw negative attention. Couples who move here tend to keep a low public profile, so weigh this one carefully.
Healthcare: Canada's travel advice puts it plainly: care is good in Nassau and Freeport but limited elsewhere. The U.K. notes that emergency facilities are limited on all the Family Islands. The clinic in George Town covers routine care. Serious cases go by air ambulance to Nassau, Freeport or Miami, so buy health insurance that includes medical evacuation before you arrive.
Limited mobility: We couldn't find an accessibility guide for Great Exuma from the government or tourism board, and our data gives the town a low accessibility grade. The water is the hard part: reaching Stocking Island or most outings means stepping from a dock into a boat. Add the limits on local healthcare and you'll find that George Town is a tough base if you use a wheelchair or need frequent medical care.
Working online: Home internet runs about $100 a month in our data. BTC and Aliv are the two mobile carriers, and talk and text work on every inhabited island. Starlink has offered fixed home broadband in The Bahamas since 2023, a useful backup during hurricane season, which runs from early June to the end of November and brings frequent power outages when storms hit.
Retiring here: George Town works for active retirees who love boats and accept flying out for specialist care. If that's not you, Nassau's hospitals may matter more than the harbor. Most retirees look at The Bahamas' Annual Residence Permit. Compare your retirement visa options or start with our Bahamas guide.
Housing
Renting and buying
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $1,000–$1,600/mo
- 1-bed rent (outside center)
- $750–$1,250/mo
Expatsi estimates, based on rental listings, government statistics, and local reporting. Coverage here is thin, so treat these as a rough guide.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a car in George Town, Exuma?
Most residents drive. Errands in the center of George Town work on foot, but the rest of Great Exuma and Little Exuma are spread out. Rental cars are available in town and at the airport. Traffic keeps to the left, though most cars are U.S. imports with the steering wheel on the left.
Is George Town, Exuma safe?
George Town scores 62 out of 100 on Expatsi's safety index. Canada's travel advice says most crime in The Bahamas happens on New Providence, where Nassau is, and Grand Bahama. On Great Exuma, the bigger everyday risks are rural roads at night and the distance to hospital care.
How do you get to George Town, Exuma from the U.S.?
Fly into Exuma International Airport, about 10 miles north of George Town. It has flights from Nassau and from U.S. gateways including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta and Charlotte, though routes change by season.
What is healthcare like on Great Exuma?
Basic. A clinic in George Town handles routine care, but emergency facilities are limited on all the Family Islands, according to the U.K. government. Serious cases are flown to Nassau, Freeport or Miami, so insurance with medical evacuation coverage is essential.
Can I retire in George Town, Exuma?
Yes, if you're active, comfortable around boats and fine flying to Nassau or Miami for specialist or emergency care. Most retirees look at The Bahamas' Annual Residence Permit. Buy health insurance that covers medical evacuation before you move, since serious cases leave the island by air ambulance.
How much does it cost to live in George Town, Bahamas?
One person spends about $2,700 a month in George Town, and most single budgets fall between $2,000 and $3,400. A couple needs about $4,000 a month and a family of four about $5,800. A one-bedroom apartment near the harbor rents for about $1,300 a month, or about $1,000 a bit farther out. These 2026 estimates come from a small sample, so check current prices before you commit.
Is the internet in George Town good enough to work remotely?
Usually, with a backup plan. Home internet costs about $100 a month in Expatsi's data, and BTC and Aliv offer mobile service on every inhabited island. Starlink has sold fixed home broadband in The Bahamas since 2023, and many remote workers keep a second connection for hurricane season, when power outages are frequent.
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